Bangladesh stand-in Test and T20I captain Mahmudullah said the experience in the past one month is a big wake-up call for the Tigers, especially in T20I cricket. The all-rounder made the statement following host Bangladesh's 2-0 whitewash in the T20I series against Sri Lanka Sunday. Bangladesh chasing a mammoth 211 runs at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium were all out for 135.
The Tigers’ month-long schedule at home included a tri-nation ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in the final despite a high-flying start to the competition and a 1-0 series loss in the two-match Test series.
Mahmudullah, who captained the Bangladesh Test and T20I teams in place of the injured Shakib al Hasan, opined that Bangladesh lost several international matches in the last four weeks due to repetition of mistakes and urged for specific plans in order to get the team back into shape and bag positive results.
"We have paid for our mistakes in every game. We have to get out of this quickly or we will keep getting the same results. We must have specific tactical and group planning. I felt that we started death-over bowling from the 12th over onwards. I think there's no alternative to taking wickets, then you will have a chance to make a comeback," said a dejected Mahmudullah Sunday.
Speaking of rectifying the mistakes in T20Is, Bangladesh will only have around two weeks in hand before their next international assignment – the Nidahas T20I series in Sri Lanka involving India and the home side. The challenge for Bangladesh is big, Mahmudullah believes, and said the side need to change in T20I cricket.
"I think the fault is in our execution. We have to plan personally and be courageous, otherwise it is tough to survive in T20Is. If you are giving 10-12 runs every over and still not trying anything, you are not going anywhere. You have to take wickets, despite giving away 15 runs. Their opening bowler (Shehan Madushanka) took two wickets despite going for runs. It helped them in the powerplay,” said Mahmudullah.
"The first six overs is very important in T20Is. Our top-order has to go hard even if we lose wickets. As for our bowling unit, we have to take early wickets. Otherwise we won't be able to survive in T20Is. It can be a proper bouncer, yorker or slower, but you have to take wickets," he concluded.